How to French Knit using toilet roll & paddle pop sticks?

Question

I know nothing about it and was wondering if there are any online tutorials or basic how-to's. Any suggestions would be much appreciated! Thanks :)

Answer 1

Tape or glue 4 to 6 sticks round a toilet roll (more could be used but you are learning) so that they stick up about half to 3/4 an inch above the end of the roll. You will need an extra stick or, preferably, a largish crochet hook to knit with. Cocktail sticks (with the sharp end blunted) would actually be much better.

Place a tail of wool down the centre of the roll, so it shows at the bottom. This is so that you can pull your knitting down as it progresses. Wind the wool fairly loosely once round the outside of the sticks and then once again. It may be a help if you tie a knot after the first time round to make a loop.

With the crochet hook, at each stick in turn, pick up the underneath wool, bring it up over the second turn, slip it over the top of the stick and into the centre. Once you have been round once, you will have a loop or stictch of the second turn of wool on each stick held by the first turn which will now all be inside the circle.

Make another turn of wool round the circle and hook each of these stitches up and over the new turn and over the top of the stick.

Keep going like this, pulling on the tail from time to time, and your knitting emerges from the bottom of the roll.

I must admit it had never occurred to me that one could use a toilet roll and lolly sticks (UK version of paddle pop sticks, I guess!). We always had a wooden cotton reel with 4, 5 or 6 brads in the top. It's very hard to get hold of wooden cotton reels these days - they are all plastic now and quite useless for the job!

I have also seen large wooden curtain rings with many more pins round them. You may be able to get rings like this from a craft or furnishing shop if you want to take it further.

Answer 2

French Knitting Toilet Roll

Answer 3

When we were growing up, we'd use a wooden thread spool and four nails. I wouldn't recommend your items since they'd be rather flimsy, but if you want to, securely tape four sticks around the outside of the roll. Alternately, hammer four short nails into one end of an empty thread spool.

Drop your yarn through the center of the roll, then loop the yarn around each stick in turn. Now this might sound confusing without a diagram, but you'll be going clockwise around the roll but COUNTERCLOCKWISE around each stick. Simply wind the yarn backwards from the inside right around the outside and back inside of #1 then go to #2 and repeat. Do the same all the way around and continue, ending up with two layers of yarn on #1.

You'll then pull the original loop of #1 over the second loop into the center of the roll. Repeat with #2, etc. It becomes such an automatic reaction you'll soon be able to do it while watching tv, etc.

Only other thing about using toilet paper rolls, you'll end up with much looser loops of yarn. In this case, you may want to use 6 or 8 sticks (or however many fit while still being able to fit yarn between) instead of the four we used to use on the thread spool to compensate and you'll end up with a much better end result.

Hope these instructions aren't too confusing. Have fun!

Answer 4

I don't know actually. Maybe it is very light used glue? I have no idea. But my toilet paper is extra annoying! It just doesn't come off, so I end up ripping the whole thing! Blah! Edit:: If you lick it, the toilet paper will stick to your tongue.

Answer 5

You can purchase a plastic version of this in varying sizes at your local craft store.

The name of the product is:KNIFTY KNITTER